Lessons and Fairy Tales

Folklore Fairy Tale From West Sumatra: The Origin of Lake Singkarak

In a village located in West Sumatra, there lived Pak Buyung, his wife, and a child named Indra. They lived in a small hut by the sea.

Everyday, Mr. Buyung and his wife collect forest products and catch fish in the sea to meet the needs of the family. Every morning, they search for manau, rattan, and amber, then sell it at the market.

If the season of fish arrives, they go to the sea to catch fish using nets, fishing rods, or bubu.

When he was 10 years old, Indra began to be invited to help his parents to the forest and sea. His father and mother were very proud of him. Only one thing that makes them restless, namely the very large appetite of Indra. Once a meal, he used to spend half a basket of rice and a few dishes of side dishes.

Once upon a time, there was a short season. Forest products and marine products are increasingly difficult to come by. This family eats yams and taro as a substitute for rice. Apparently, this lean season lasts a long time, so they are getting more and more silk to get food. They must hold on to hunger every day. Over time, this condition makes them care more about themselves than their children.

One day, Indra complained that her stomach was very hungry. For days they had only eaten grilled yams. He cried and complained to his father.

“Dad, I'm so hungry. Can you give me food?” whining.

“Lazy boy! If you are hungry, go there looking for your own manicure in the forest or at sea!” father says.

The mother tried to defend Indra, because Indra was a child. However, his father still insisted that Indra forage on her own. Thanks to the persuasion of his mother, Indra also set out to find food to the forest in Bukit Junjung Sirih.

Before leaving, Indra first fed his chicken named Taduang. The chicken was very loyal to Indra. Every time Indra came or went home, he always crowed to welcome him.

From morning until noon, Indra went looking for food to the forest and to the sea. But until noon, not a little food to fill his hungry stomach. So he went back home.

The next day, the father told him to go for food. His mother and father slept at home. They seem to have fallen into the situation. Until a month this state lasted and Indra felt his body was very tired.

One day, when Indra was looking for food to the sea, his mother managed to get a small shell, the catch with several neighbors.

“What is it, Ma?” ask husband.

Indra's mother who was washing foodstuffs said that pensi is very good if it is started. la then cooking gulai pensi, the aroma makes the father's stomach hungry.

“Wah, it smells good, Mom. Is this enough for the three of us? I know Indra eats a lot. It doesn't feel enough,” said the father.

“Look, we'll just eat together while Indra goes to sea. If he comes back, we hide this side dish. Si Taduang will definitely crow if Indra comes.”

Finally, Mr. Buyung and his wife ate the gulai pension very greedily. But they had not finished eating, the Taduang crowed. The husband and wife immediately tidied up the food and hid it under the bed. When Indra entered the house, he saw his parents were sitting around relaxing.

“Sorry Dad, I didn't get any fish at all,” Indra said.

“If you don't get fish, what can you eat?” said Mr. Buyung.

“I'm so tired, Dad. Can I eat?”

“Alright you can eat, but you have to wash this grit first until it becomes white,” his mother while thrusting a bundle of corns that Mr. Buyung just brought from the forest.

lndra went to the river to wash the ice. He washes for a long time, but the color of the tooth cannot change. Poor Indra, he did not know that the corn is indeed black and will not be able to be made white despite washing. he did not know that his mother's father dun was continuing to eat food greedily at home.

Feeling that his body was very tired, Indra then returned home. When he got home, he slowly went into the kitchen. To his great surprise, he saw his father and mother sleeping in the kitchen with the remains of dinner plates scattered around. No more eating left.

Indra was very saddened by what she saw. she did not expect her parents to have lied to her. With tears dripping down his cheeks, he walked out and caught his favorite chicken. They sat down on a stone beside the hut where Indra lived.

“Dad and mom have lied to me, Taduang. I'm very sad. I'd better go, because it turns out they don't love me,”” isak Indra. Crows as a sign that he understands his master's feelings.

The chicken then flapped its wings as if giving a sign to Indra.

Indra holding on to Taduang's leg. Then, the chicken flew slowly with Indra hanging on to her feet. Apparently, the stone they were sitting on was carried at the feet of Indra. The more the stone gets bigger and becomes heavy. Taduang was no longer able to fly with Indra and the big stone, Finally, Indra kicked the stone until it fell to the earth and hit a hill near the ocean. The stone blow made an elongated hole, quickly the water directly flowed through the hole so that it formed a river flow.

According to the story, the flow is the origin of the formation of the Ombilin River that flows to Riau. Then, the sea water shrank to form a lake which was then called Lake Singkarak.

Meanwhile, Indra and his favorite chicken are not known to exist.

Moral Message from the Folklore From West Sumatra: Lake Singkarak is a selfish nature will harm yourself and also hurt others